Counter refrigerator



Dec. 11 1923. 1,476,925

J. SCHULDE COUNTER REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 29, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q l ww Q h i. n i! i i .1 v WJJ Nw "K m,

Dec. 11 1923. 1,476,925

J. SCHULDE COUNTER REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 29, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q? a 63mm 3 z/O/M/ 5 CHUL o a,

M fl y al MW Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

STATES PATENT FFICIE.

JOHN SCHULDE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOIR T HARRY L. HUSSMANN REFRIGERATOR & SUPPLY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

COUNTER REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed September 29, 1919. Serial No. 327,150.

more particularly to counter or show case refrigerators.

In counter or show case refrigerators, the goods are placed in a refrigerator compartment which is elongated to provide a counter or show case, being rovided for that purpose with glass pane s at one or more sides,

and also at the top. In such a refrigerator, the refrigerant should be out of sight and should not obscure the view of'the goods; accordingly, the refrigerating unit employed is placed at one end of the refrigerator compartment. This, however, requires "that the unit be of a high capacity so as to cause considerable reduction of temperature and moreover this unit should be arranged so as not to obstruct but rather promote the circulation of a current of refrigerated air along and through the refri erator compartments.

Une of the objects 0% this invention, therefore, is to provide a refrigerator, which is constructed so as to not only obtain the greatest refrigerating action, but also to permit the circulation of air in the refrigerator compartment.

Another object is to provide a refrigerating unit, which is simple in construction, ef-

fective in its action, easily kept in repair, and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a refrigerator embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a detail plan view of the drip receivers; Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3, Figure '1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44, Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a detail of Figure 3. Referring to the accompanying drawing, the refrigerator comprises an oblong structure adapted to provide an oblong refrigerator compartment, the walls and base of which are suitably packed with insulating material as shown at 1, the inside being also preferably lined with metal. The top is closed with glass panels 2, which are in spaced relation to provide heat insulating space therebetween, while the sides are also provided with glass panels of duplex construction so as to provide air insulation between the panes. long one side, the panels are formed in doors 3 to render the interior of the refrigerator compartment accessible. Arranged in the refrigerator compartment 65 are shelves 4 and 5, the shelves at being supported by suitable brackets 6 formed on the inside of the. refrigerator compartment, while. the shelves 5 are supported near the bottom of the refrigerator compartmentiin a manner hereinafter to be described.

Formed in any suitable position, and in this particular embodiment, at one end of the refrigerator is an opening closed by a closure, 10 which is also suitably insulated and is hinged at one end and provided at its other end with a hand hold 11. It will be noted that at this point the side walls12 of the refrigerator are solid and that the sides, as weli as the bottom and top, are'thoroughly packed with insulating material. Arranged below the top and projecting into the opening, completely around its perimeter is a ledge 13 which is suitably secured to the side walls of the refrigerator.

The refrigerating unit isconstructed of sheet metal and comprises a header 14, having opening therefrom a central leg 15 and outside legs 16 arranged around the central leg. All of these legs contract downwardly and the header is also somewhat contracted at its lower end as shown at 17 to form a hopper-like structure. The outside legs 16 are arranged in pairs and each pair is con nected' by a yoke 18. The bottoms of the yolres, as well as the bottom of the leg 15 are, however, open, but the bottoms of the yokes are partially closed by strips 19 and by projections 20 of the central leg 15 attached to the strip, while the strip 21 closes the central leg 15 and firmlycconnects the bottoms of the le i he header'M has formed thereon a ledge 22 provided with an extending rim 23 whereby the header and its outside legs may be placed in position through the top opening and be positioned on and by the ledge 13. After the header is thus in position, it

web' at 27 and along its ,lower flange asshown at 28. There is alsopreferably pro vided for each port a screen 29, this screen being placed between the canopy and its port; it is only absolutely necessary to place this screen on the inside port, i. e., the port opening to the"'s'torage space, although the opposite port may also be provided with such a screen.

Arranged in the bottom of the refrigerator is a drip receiver and this drip receiver comprises a series of elements, namely a series of primary drip receivers 30 placed directly beneath the header and its outside legs so as to receive the drippings therefrom, and these primary elements are detachably connected by a bridge 31 having upper inclined faces and having side flanges extending into the receivers, it being noted that these receivers are in spaced relation so as to provide an air space therebetween and that they are supported on brackets 32 to raise them above the floor of the refrigerant chamber.- It will be further noted that each primary drip receiver has an inwardly extending wall 33 so as to provide an air space and provide an overhanging portion. Each of these overhanging portions is provided with a discharge nipple 3.4.

Arranged in lateral spaced relation along the bottom of the refrigerant chamber and supported above the bottom on brackets are a pair of secondarydrip receivers 36. Each of these secondary drip receivers is formed to provide a ledge 37 of maximum height and sloping tops 38 inclined downwardly towards the center of the refrigerator. On one corner of each secondary drip receiver is a neck 39 into which a nipple 34, also on the corresponding corner of a primary drip receiver, extends. The other end of each secondary drip receiving element is formed to provide an open trough 40 provided with a riser 41 discharging into a common outlet 42 which has a trap-forming pipe connection 43 di'schargin to the drain 44.

It will be note that the drip receivers are all constructed of sheet metal and that the secondary drip receivers provide a ledge 37 for the shelves 5,in the bottom of the refrigerator chamber.

The header and its leg connections are filled with a mixture of salt and ice, this mixture packing into the legs and their yokes on account of the contracted structure thereof. The canopies 26, however, prevent packing of the mixture adjacent the ports 25 and, therefore, provide air chambers adjacent these ports. If any small particles of ice and salt should enter these air chambers formed by the canopies, these particles will drop through and be discarded by the apertures 28. In order to provide additional protection, especially on the side where the goods are displayed, the screen 29 positively will bebelow freezing point.

Where a mixture of salt and ice is used, the mixture will, of course, remain in a solid condition and the lumps of the salt and ice will provide sufiicient space so that air can pass through the header from one port to the other. Accordingly, the warmer air near the top or roof of the refrigerator compartment will enter the port on the right side, Figure 1, of the header, will pass theretln'ough in direct contact with the freezing mixtureand will pass out through the other port on the opposite side and near the end wall. The air will now drop, as shown in the direction of the arrows, and will pass through the air passable lower end of the freezing mixture container and on account of the staggered relation of the legs, will come in contact with all of them and become still colder.

The drip receivers being very cold will still further cool the air and on account of the spaced relation of the elements, the chilled air will pass therebetween and therealong as noted by the direction of the arrows. The chilled air will, therefore, travel along the lower side of the refrigerator chamber and as it reaches the lower end, it will rise and pass along the roof back to the ports in the header.

It will, therefore, be seen that this invention accomplishes its objects. With a structure as shown and described, not only are low temperatures obtainable, but by circulation of the ail throughout the refrigerator compartment, a low temperature may be obtained in every part of that compartment w th a small space allowed for the refrigerating unit; accmrdingly, the storage and dis play space may be increased to a maximum. Furthermore, all parts are readily removable and can be readily be flushed with water whenever it is desired to clean the refrigerator, although on account of the construction, such clogging will be reduced to a minimum.

It will be noted that in the counter refrigerator embodying this invention the elongated show-case provided with transparent panels has mounted at one end thereof a refrigerant containerv adapted to receive a freezing mixture. This container is constructed and arranged (in the particular embodiment shown, by perforation of the front and back. walls at the upper end of the container) to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top of the container, while the arrangement is also such as to provide passages along the back and bottom of the container connecting with the top passage, in order to induce a flow of air through the top passage and down the back passage. The container as-well as the drip pan is also adapted and positioned to cause a current of air to circulate in'a path from the bottom of the container along the bottom of the show case and in a return path along the top of the show case into the top of the container. This arrangement not only results in keeping the entire show case cool but by directing the current of air along the show case instead of transversely thereto,clouding of the glass panels is avoided. Furthermore any moisture or volatile matter passes over the freezing mixture so as to become deposited therein and on the walls of the container 50 that th air is maintained dry and odorless.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment, a refrigerating unit mounted in the compartment and comprising, a freezingmixture container having ports in com munication with the compartment, adapted to permit air circulation through the container and in direct contact withthe freezing mixture therein, canopies overhanging said ports inside of said container, and a screen for said ports;

2. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment, a refrigerating u'nit mounted in the compartment comprising a header having legs opening therefrom and arranged in staggered relation.

3. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment, a refrigeratin unit mounted in the compartment comprising, a header having legs opening therefrom, including a central leg and lateral legs joined by a brace at their lower ends.

4. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment, a refrigeratingunit mounted in the compartment comprising, a header 6. A counter refrigerator comprising, an

elongated show-case provided with transparent panels, a refrigerant container adapted to receive a freezing mixture and mounted at one end of said show-case, said container being constructed and arranged to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top thereof and to provide passages along its back and bottom connecting with said top assage, in order to induce a flow of air tirough said top passage in contact with the freezing mixture and down said back passage, said container being adapted and positioned to cause a current of air to circulate in a path from the bottom of said container along the bottom of the show-case and in a return path along the top of the show-case into the top of said contamer.

7. A counter refrigerator comprising, an elongated show-case provided with trans parent panels, a refrigerant container adapted to receive a freezing mixture and mounted at one end of said show-case, said container being constructed and arranged to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top thereof and ,to provide passages along its back and bottom connecting with said top passage, in order to induce a flow of air through said top passage in contact with the freezing mixture and down said back passage, and a drip pan extending long the bottom of the show-case beyond said container and adapted to receive brine therefrom, said container and said pan being adapted and positioned to cause a current of air to circulate in a path from the bottom of said container along the bottom of the show-case and in a return path along the top of the show-case into the top of said container.

8. A counter refrigerator comprising, an elongated show-case provided with transparent panels, a refrigerant container adapted to receive a freezing mixture and mounted at one end of said show-case, said container having front and back walls which are perforated at the upper end of said container to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top thereof, said container being constructed and arranged to provide passages along the back and bottom connecting with said top passage, in order to induce a flow of air through said top passage and down said back passage, said container being dapted and positioned to cause a current of air to circulate in a path from the bottom of said container along the bottom of the show case and in a return path along the top of the showcase into the top of said container.

9. A counter refrigerator comprising, an

elongated show-case provided with transparent panels, a refrigerant container adapted to receive a freezin mixture and mounted at one end of said 5 ow case, said container having front and back walls which are perforated at the upper end of 'said container to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top thereof, and guards for said perforations, said container being constructed and arranged to provide assages along the'baek and bottom connectmg with said top passage, in order to induce a flow of air through said top passage and down said back passage, said container being adapted and positioned to causea current of air to'circulate in a path from the bottom of said container along the bottom of the show-case and in a return path along the top of the show-case into the top of said container.

10. A counter refrigerator comprising, an elongated show-case provided with transparent panels, a refrigerant container adapted to receive a freezing mixture and mounted at one end of said show-case, said container comprising a header having depending legs opening therefrom, the walls of said header being perforated to provide a top passage over the freezing mixture in the top thereof, said container being constructed and arranged to provide passages along its back and bottom connecting with said top passage, in order to induce a flow of air through said top passage and down said back assage, said container being adapted and positioned to cause a current of air to circulate in a path from the bottom JOHN SCHULDE. 

